“Many Different Webs” Lesson 6.13 Created By: Pam Gunter

Can anyone remember what the challenge for last week’s lesson was? Were you able to come up with methods of relaxation techniques to relieve anger, frustration and stress? Did anyone use those techniques to improve a situation they were in?

 Materials Needed:  Prepare adhesive “labels” for each student’s forehead. Masking tape is sufficient to use for the labels.  Classroom Setup:  Divide the class into smaller groups of 5-6 students.  Students need to face each other within their circle.

 Explain to the students that differences will always exist in all relationship types, (ie. at work, at home, at school, sports teams, etc.), because everyone is different.  Ask the students how people are different. (cultural and financial backgrounds, beliefs and values, etc.)  Explain that often times when people with varying opinions, thoughts and ideas are in disagreements, there is a level of frustration or anger.  Just like learning to manage our anger, we need to develop skills to help us work through and resolve conflicts or problems.

 It is important when resolving a disagreement or conflict to realize that there are often times more than one way to complete a task.  Sometimes your idea is the best.  Sometimes it is the other person’s idea that would be best.  Frequently it is a combination of two or more people’s ideas that create a strong resolution to a project or situation.  Following a few simple tips can help resolve conflicts without causing an escalation in temper, frustration and anger. 1. Stop and cool off. 2. Show respect and listen. 3. Share your ideas when it is your turn. 4. Think what would be best for everyone. 5. Do it!

 Explain to the students that you are going to place a different label on everyone’s forehead. Explain that you are going to give them a problem and everyone in the group needs to help resolve the problem. They are to treat everyone based on what their label says. It is important that students not share what each other’s labels say or it will defeat the object of the activity. Place individual labels that say:  Ignore me.  Encourage me.  Disagree with me.  Agree with me.  Argue with me.  Once the labels are in place, give them the following scenario to resolve:  You have been anxious to see a new movie that just came out. When it was released, your parents wouldn’t let you go due to sex and violence. A friend of yours asked you to go with him/her. You know that you could get away with it by telling your parents you wanted to spend the night with you friend. What would you do? How would you carry out your plan?

Points instructor needs to bring out:  Explain that resolving differences and conflict is part of life. Everyone experiences times when they don’t agree with someone.  Just because you have differences, doesn’t mean you always have the best ideas; listen to others and give yourself an opportunity to learn from them.  Following the five step plan helps reduce the amount of stress, frustration and anger created by differences.  Be careful to refrain from using labels on people. Once you begin labeling others, you begin to create barriers. Barriers stand in the way of progress.

Encourage the students to practice the 5 step technique to resolve differences and conflicts. Challenge them to avoid placing labels on others. Remind the students to avoid labeling others. Once a label is placed on someone, it is very difficult to remove it. Labels create barriers and limits progress.